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Hospital junior staff go on flash strike
More than 1,500 sweepers and clerical staff of Sion hospital went on a flash strike on Tuesday, opposing the civic body’s proposal to outsource their services. The hospital’s ward boys and nurses supported the agitation.
More than 1,500 sweepers and clerical staff of Sion hospital went on a flash strike on Tuesday, opposing the civic body’s proposal to outsource their services. The hospital’s ward boys and nurses supported the agitation.
The employees alleged that the proposal for privatisation of cleanliness and maintenance services means that the hospital’s existing manpower would be transferred to civic-run KEM and Nair hospitals.
“We vehemently oppose the move to privatise the services of the Class IV employees. The workload on Sion hospital is much more when compared to any other hospital. The patient load at the hospital has only increased in the last two decades while the numbers of Class IV employees has remained the same,” said Sunil Chitnis, working president, Municipal Karmachari Kamgar Sena.
“We are really short of staff, given the volume of patients we handle. Staff strength must also be proportionate,” said Dr Sandhya Kamath, dean of Sion hospital.
The total strength of the Class IV staff in Sion hospital is 515. Of these, 76 posts are vacant. The strike was called off after mayor Shraddha Jadhav, BMC standing committee chairman Rahul Shevale, and KEM hospital dean Sanjay Oak met the protesting employees and assured them that an amicable solution would be worked out.
While union leaders alleged that the proposal for privatisation came up for discussion last month, additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar denied that any such proposal had been discussed.
“I have not even taken a meeting to consider any such proposal,” said Mhaiskar. “We are trying to fill the vacant positions. The vacancies are even open to the children of the employees who are currently serving in the hospital. There is a special provision for the SC, ST and OBCs as well.”
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